Creative freedom to shoot teen sex retained

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Films depicting teenage sexuality can be made in Victoria after
the Bracks Government backed away from moves that could have banned
them.

A bill introduced by the Government earlier this year would have
changed the threshold age in which teenagers can engage in sex acts
or be depicted in "an indecent sexual manner", from 16 to 18.

The changes would have expanded the definition of "objectionable
films" that cannot be made in Victoria, potentially thwarting films
similar to Somersault, judged best film last year by the Australian
Film Institute - about a sexually precocious 16-year-old girl -
from being made in Victoria.

The Government this week introduced amendments in Parliament to
ensure Victorian filmmakers could produce "legitimate dramatic
films" that dealt with teenage sexuality.

At the same time, it will remain a crime to produce pornographic
films with children under 18.

Filmmakers were concerned about censorship of legitimate works
when the legislation was announced. Attorney-General Rob Hulls said
this had not been the intention.

"The Bracks Government supports Victorian filmmakers and today's
amendments ensure the arts community will not be affected in their
production of legitimate films," Mr Hulls said on Wednesday.

"At the same time, the Government has ensured that it will
remain an offence for pornographic films to be made using children
under 18."

"On the first reading of the amendment, it looks like it's a
positive move," he said.

"We're always concerned about filmmakers having the ability to
make films about as many subjects as possible and (when this bill
was introduced) we were very concerned about what it meant for
their level of creative freedom."

Provisions in the act will safeguard teenagers by making it an
offence to produce films that are, or would receive, an X rating or
be refused classification by the Office of Film and Literature
Classification.

This would apply to any film that depicts a person who is, or
appears to be under 18, in a pornographic manner, Mr Hulls
said.

The amendments would bring Victoria into line with other states
and ensure its classification laws complied with the International
Labour Organisation Convention guidelines on the worst forms of
child labour.